Automatic Midnight
Encyclopedia
Automatic Midnight is the first album by the San Diego, California
rock
band Hot Snakes
, released in 2000 by Swami Records
. Both the band and the album began as a "side project" for John Reis
in June 1999, during time off from his main band Rocket From the Crypt
. Reis wrote and recorded a batch of songs in San Diego with Delta 72 drummer Jason Kourkounis. To provide vocals for the tracks Reis called in Rick Froberg
, whom he had played with in Pitchfork
and Drive Like Jehu
from 1986 to 1995. Most of the material from these sessions was used to create Automatic Midnight, which became the first release for Reis' newly formed Swami Records label.
As a visual artist and illustrator Froberg provided all of the artwork for the album. Although the artwork and cover themselves are black on white, the CD release is packaged in a translucent orange jewel case and the LP
in translucent orange shrink wrap
, giving the packaged album an orange color.
Touring in support of Automatic Midnight was sporadic due to logistical concerns: Reis lived in San Diego, Kourkounis in Philadelphia and Froberg in New York
. When a full touring band was needed Gar Wood was called in to play the bass guitar. The band was not conceived as a permanent project, and after some touring Reis returned to working full-time with Rocket From the Crypt. However, Hot Snakes would reconvene intermittently over the next several years to record two more studio albums and tour, with Wood on board as a permanent member.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Hot Snakes
Hot Snakes
Hot Snakes were an American post-hardcore band led by Rick Froberg and John Reis, formed in 1999 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005. Reis and Froberg had previously performed together in Pitchfork and Drive Like Jehu, after which Reis had found international success with Rocket from the...
, released in 2000 by Swami Records
Swami Records
Swami Records is a San Diego based independent record label specializing in punk rock, indie rock and garage rock that was founded in 2000 by John Reis...
. Both the band and the album began as a "side project" for John Reis
John Reis
John Reis is an American musician, singer, guitarist, record label owner, and disc jockey. He is best known as the singer and guitarist for the rock band Rocket from the Crypt, which he formed and fronted for the entirety of its career from 1990 to 2005...
in June 1999, during time off from his main band Rocket From the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1989 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005.The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope...
. Reis wrote and recorded a batch of songs in San Diego with Delta 72 drummer Jason Kourkounis. To provide vocals for the tracks Reis called in Rick Froberg
Rick Froberg
Eric "Rick" Froberg is an American musician and artist. He was born in Los Angeles, lived in Encinitas, California, and currently resides in Brooklyn...
, whom he had played with in Pitchfork
Pitchfork (band)
Pitchfork was an American post-hardcore band formed in 1986 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 1990. They are most well known as the first "real" band of guitarist John Reis, who would later gain fame as the frontman in Rocket from the Crypt, and as the first collaboration between Reis and...
and Drive Like Jehu
Drive Like Jehu
Drive Like Jehu was an American post-hardcore and alternative rock band from San Diego active from 1990 to 1995. Formed by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rick Froberg and lead guitarist John Reis following the breakup of their band Pitchfork, the band's lineup also included bassist Mike Kennedy and...
from 1986 to 1995. Most of the material from these sessions was used to create Automatic Midnight, which became the first release for Reis' newly formed Swami Records label.
As a visual artist and illustrator Froberg provided all of the artwork for the album. Although the artwork and cover themselves are black on white, the CD release is packaged in a translucent orange jewel case and the LP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
in translucent orange shrink wrap
Shrink wrap
Shrink wrap, also shrinkwrap or shrink film, is a material made up of polymer plastic film. When heat is applied it shrinks tightly over whatever it is covering. Heat can be applied with a hand held heat gun or the product and film can pass through a heat tunnel on a conveyor.-Composition:The...
, giving the packaged album an orange color.
Touring in support of Automatic Midnight was sporadic due to logistical concerns: Reis lived in San Diego, Kourkounis in Philadelphia and Froberg in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. When a full touring band was needed Gar Wood was called in to play the bass guitar. The band was not conceived as a permanent project, and after some touring Reis returned to working full-time with Rocket From the Crypt. However, Hot Snakes would reconvene intermittently over the next several years to record two more studio albums and tour, with Wood on board as a permanent member.
Track listing
- "If Credit's What Matters I'll Take Credit"
- "Automatic Midnight"
- "No Hands"
- "Salton City"
- "10th Planet"
- "Light Up the Stars"
- "Our Work Fills the Pews"
- "Past Lives"
- "Mystery Boy (aka Jason K.)"
- "Apartment 0"
- "Let it Come"
Performers
- Rick FrobergRick FrobergEric "Rick" Froberg is an American musician and artist. He was born in Los Angeles, lived in Encinitas, California, and currently resides in Brooklyn...
(credited as Nasdaq/Reek Fart) - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, lead vocals - John ReisJohn ReisJohn Reis is an American musician, singer, guitarist, record label owner, and disc jockey. He is best known as the singer and guitarist for the rock band Rocket from the Crypt, which he formed and fronted for the entirety of its career from 1990 to 2005...
(credited as Spic Odor/John Re) - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Jason Kourkounis (credited as Judas Deceased/Jsinclair) - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Kim Thompson - backing vocals on "Salton City"
Album information
- Record label:Swami RecordsSwami RecordsSwami Records is a San Diego based independent record label specializing in punk rock, indie rock and garage rock that was founded in 2000 by John Reis...
- Recorded June 1999 at Big Fish Recorders in San Diego by John Reis and Ben Moore.
- All songs published by Mr. Buttermaker Painting
- Artwork by Rick Froberg